Method and apparatus for decorating bottles



R. R. RUDOLPH ETAL 3,221,643

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING BOTTLES Dec. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 QZEEdJU Om mm VN ommza u INVENTORS ROME R. RUDOLPHand CARL TRUTZ, JR. BY

I M MA '7 lheir ATTORNEY mmHEbm 92-2002- QZ E5330 5 7 PZUSZOWE 1965 R.R. RUDOLPH ETAL 3,221,643

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING BOTTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.5, 1965 Fig. 4.

INVENTORS ROME R.RUDOLPH and BY CARL TRUTZ, JR.

iheir ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,221,643 METHOD AND APPARAT S FORDECORATING BOTTLES Rome R. Rudoiph, Gibsonia, and Carl J. Strutz, Jr.,Mars, Pa., assignors to Carl Strutz & Co., Inc., Valencia, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,928 6Claims. (Cl. 101-38) This invention relates to a method and apparatusfor decorating bottles, and more particularly to a method and apparatusfor decorating bottles wherein the registry of said bottles with respectto a decorating screen or screens is maintained throughout the travel ofsaid bottles through a decorating machine.

The present invention finds particular utility in the decoration ofcylindrical bottles whose cylindrical shape does not afford an inherentregistration aid as in the case of bottles having square or rectangularcross sections. An example of a bottle having an inherent registrationaid will be found in US. Patent No. 2,925,030. Furthermore, the presentinvention finds equal utility when used on machines wherein the bottlesare supported about a horizontal axis or about a vertical axis.

One of the major problems associated with automatic bottle decoratingmachines concerns the registration of the area to be decorated on thebottle with the decorat ing screen or screens. This registration isconsiderably complicated when two or more colors are to be applied, asfor example, a background color and a foreground color which are appliedsuccessively and must be aligned or registered with respect to oneanother and also with respect to a specific area of the bottle.

To aid in the registration of the area to be decorated with the stencilscreen, it is a normal practice to provide small projections or lugs oneach bottle which are formed or cast therein at a suitable location, forexample, near the base. The projections or lugs facilitate precise1ocating of the ware for registration of single or successive decoratingimprints. In the case of cylindrical bottles, for example, the bottle isrotated about its longitudinal axis whereupon the projection or lugabuts an arm which is operatively connected to the bottle rotatingmechanism for stopping the rotation of the bottle. The arm is sopositioned whereby the bottle will be stopped at a predeterminedposition or orientation wherein the area to be decorated is inapproximate or exact registry with a decorating screen.

Heretofore, in the decorating art, it has been a practice to pre-aligneach bottle to within a certain specific number of degrees of its properorientation. That is to say, the bottle is initially revolved and thenstopped at a predetermined position which predetermined position isnearly the desired orientation. The bottle is then conveyed to the firstpainting station.

It should be understood at this time, that the bottles are nottransferred in a continuous flow but rather in a stop-start orintermittent flow. This should be evident since in order to pre-align,decorate or perform any operation on the bottle, the bottle must bestationary with respect to the mechanism performing the operation. Forthis reason, then, the bottle must undergo a final alignment. Hence, thebottle is again revolved and stopped in an exact registration. The areato be decorated now is placed in exact registry with the decoratingscreen or screens. The bottle is then decorated.

Thereafter, the bottle is transferred to a second prealigning stationwherein the bottle is once again pre-aligned as in the firstpro-alignment station. The bottle is then transferred to a secondpainting station for a second final alignment and a second decoration.

The important point to note is that each bottle undergoes two alignmentsteps, namely, pre-alignment wherein the bottle is approximately alignedand final alignment wherein the bottle is exactly aligned. It should beevident that the multiple alignments of the bottles reduces the numberof bottles which could be decorated since each alignment step requires acertain amount of operating time. Further, the cost of the decoratingmachine is increased by the inclusion of multiple alignment apparatus.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention toprovide novel apparatus for maintaining the exact alignment of bottlesthroughout their travel through a decorating machine whereby only onealignment operation is required for each paintaing operation.

Other important objects of the present invention include:

To provide apparatus for maintaining the exact orientation of thebottles wherein the production of decorated bottles is higher thanheretofore possible;

To provide apparatus for maintaining the exact orientation of bottleswhich apparatus does not interfere with the painting operation;

To provide apparatus for maintaining the exact orientation of thebottles with respect to the decorating screen or screens whereby thenumber of bottles rejected due to mismatching of multiple imprints isreduced;

To provide apparatus for maintaining the exact orientation of thebottles with respect to the decorating screen or screens whereby thenumber of bottles rejected due to mismatching of a single or multipleimprints with respect to an exact area of said bottle is reduced; and

To provide a novel method for decorating bottles.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a decorating machine having twopainting stations and in which the present invention is utilized;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of thedecorating machine of FIG. 1 through the first painting station thereofand also illustrating the use of the present invention therein;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partly in cross section,illustrating a cradle means including the clamping means of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view as viewed from the line IVIV of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation view, similar to FIG. 4, andillustrating the present clamping means in an open position.

The present invention provides a clamping means for maintaining thebottles in a predetermined orientation which orientation comprises theexact registry of the bottle area or areas to be decorated with thedecorating screen or screens. The present clamping means is particularlyadapted for use with automatic decorating machines which have aplurality of bottle support cradles secured to a conveyor means formovement therewith and means adapted to engage and rotate each bottleinto a desired position. Examples of conventional decorating machineshaving support cradles, a conveyor and means adapted to engage androtate each bottle will be found in US. Patent Nos. 2,231,535 and2,721,516.

According to the present invention, each of the support cradles isprovided with one of the present clamping means. The clamping means issecured to the neck yoke of the support cradle and is so positionedwhereby once the bottle has been rotated into the predeterminedposition, the bottle is clamped in a non-rotatable relation with thesupport cradle. Each bottle is then transferred to a painting stationwhereupon it is released for decoration.

Each bottle may undergo a single painting wherein an imprint of a singlecolor is applied or multiple paintings wherein a single or multipleimprints are applied each of which may consist of two or more colors.The necessity for registering round bottles for multiple paintings isselfevident. The necessity for registering round bottles for a singlepainting will become apparent when it is remembered that most roundbottles are made from two identical halves which are subsequently fusedtogther to form the complete bottle. This type of bottle has two seamswhich are diametrically opposed. It is very desirable to place thedecorative imprint in the region between the two seams and hence, thebottle must be registered. Other bottles have raised surfaces upon whichthe decorative imprint is to be applied. These bottles also must beregistered since the imprint will be applied at a specific location onthe bottle.

In the case of cylindrical bottles, each bottle is rotated through 360while being decorated. At the completion of the decorating process, thebottle reaches the predetermined position whereupon it is again clamped.The bottle is then removed to the next painting station. It is importantto note that each bottle remains clamped in the predetermined positionwhile it is being transferred and is released only during the decoratingprocess. Hence, the bottle area to be decorated is at all time in exactregistry with the decorating screen.

In order to facilitate a full understanding of the method provided bythe present invention, attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein adecorating operation is diagrammatically illustrated.

In FIG. 1, there is diagrammatically illustrated a decorating machinehaving stations 114, inclusive. Station 2 comprises an alignment andclamping station, while sations 6 and 11 comprise painting assembliesnumber 1 and 2, respectively, as indicated.

The undecorated bottles are conveyed by means of conveyor 20 to aletdown mechanism (not illustrated) which deposits the bottles on thedecorating machine. At the discharge end of the decorating machine, atake-off mehcanism (not illustrated) serves to deposit the deco ratedbottles onto a discharge conveyor 22 which transfers the decoratedbottles to another area for further processing or storage.

The incoming undecorated bottles stand on the conveyor 20 in a verticalposition. The letdown mechanism (not shown) lowers each individualbottle into a horizontal position with the neck extending toward thefront of the machine. The bottles are then moved from station-to-stationfrom right to left without interruption. At the discharge end (to theleft of station '14) the decorating bottles are raised to a verticalposition and deposited on the discharge conveyor 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, each bottle 23 is provided with a small lug orprojection 24 which facilitates precise locating of a bottle forregistration of successive decorating imprints. Each bottle 23, when atstation 1, has its projection 24 oriented in a random manner. The bottle23 is then moved to station 2 wherein two are performed. In the firstoperation, a drive mechanism (not shown) is activated which rotates thebottle 23 (e.g., clockwise) to bring the projection 24 to an exactpredetermined position. As the bottle 23 rotates, the lug 24 will abut aregistration finger 26 which deactivates the drive mechanism and therebystops the rotation of the bottle. It should be stressed here that theregistration finger 26 is so positioned whereby the bottle 23 will bestopped in a position wherein the area to be decorated is in exactregistry with a decorating screen 28 (see station 6, FIG. 2).

At this point, a second operation is performed, namely, a clamping means30 is activated to rigidly secure the bottle 23 in a non-rotatablerelation with the support cradle (not shown). The bottle 23 thenundergoes the stop-start movement while being transferred to thepainting assembly number 1 at station 6. Notice, however, that thebottle 23 remains rigidly clamped during its passage through stations 3,4 and 5.

At station 6, then, the clamping means 30 first is released whereupon asqueegee 32 is lowered into contact with the decorating screen 28 andforces the decorating screen -28 into contact with the surface of thebottle 23. As illustrated, the bottle 23 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction while the decorating screen 28 is moved fromright-to-left and in rolling contact with the surface of the bottle 23.The squeegee 32 is then raised. During the decorating process, thebottle is rotated through exactly 360. Therefore, upon completion of thedecorating process, the bottle resumes its position of exact registry.At this point, the clamping means 30 is again activated to rigidlysecure the bottle 23 in a non-rotatable relation with the support cradle(not shown). The bottle 23 remains rigidly clamped during its passagethrough stations 7, 8, 9 and 10. At station 11 which corresponds withthe painting assembly number 2, the second decorative imprint is appliedto the bottle 23 in exactly the same manner as the first imprint wasapplied at station 6. When the application of the second imprint iscompleted, the bottle 23 is transferred through stations 12, 13 and 14and is deposited onto the discharge conveyor 22 by means of a take-offmechanism (not shown). Clamping of the bottle 23 beyond station 11 isnot necessary.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 wherein a preferredconstruction of the present clamping means 30 is illustrated. In FIG. 3there is illustrated a support cradle 36 comprising a cradle born 38,and an extended neck yoke 40 both of which are secured to a cradle strap42. The bottle 23 is shown supported on the support cradle 36 with itsbottom portion 23a resting on the cradle horn 38 and its neck portion23b resting on the extended neck yoke 40. The support cradle 36 isreleasably secured on a conveyor means 44 in a manner well known in theart. The cradle means 36 is pivotal at one end about a shaft 46 on thedrive bar 48 of the conveyor means 44. At the other end of the cradlestrap 42 there is provided a guide arm 50 which depends therefrom andwhich includes a roller 52 engaged with and guided by a rail member 54.The rail member 54 serves to lower the support cradle 36 from a verticalposition to the horizontal position at the feed end of the decoratingmachine as illustrated and serves to elevate the support cradle 36 fromthe horizontal position to a vertical position at the discharge end ofthe decorating machine.

FIG. 3 illustrates the support cradle 36 in a position which wouldcorrespond to station 2 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The hereinbefore mentioneddrive mechanism which rotates the bottle 23 about its longitudinal axisis schematically illustrated herein as comprising a neck chuck 56 and abottom chuck 58 which are engaged with the top and bottom portions 23b,23a, respectively, of the bottle 23 and which clamp the bottle 23therebetween. The neck chuck 56 preferably is a freely rota-table memberwhile the bottom chuck 58 is rotated by mechanism not shown. When thedrive mechanism is activated, the bottle 23 will be rotated whereby theprojection 24 will be moved from the full-line position to thedotted-line position. At this point, the projection 24 will engage theregistration finger 26 which deactivates the drive mechanism to stop therotation of the bottle 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamping means 30 preferably ispositioned at the extreme end of the extended neck yoke 40. The clampingmeans 30 preferably comprises a pair of opposed jaw members 60, 62 whichare pivotally secured to the extended neck yoke 40 by means of bolt 64.The bolt 64 defines an axis indicated by the dashed-dot line 66 aboutwhich both of the jaw members 60 and 62' pivot. Each of the jaw members60 and 62 includes an arm 68 which is contiguous therewith and dependstherefrom. As best shown in FIG. 4, a spring member 70 extends betweenthe arms 68 and serves to urge the jaw members 60, 62 into a clampingposition as illustrated in FIG. 4. p

A cam member 72 is provided which is disposed centrally between the arms68. and which is pivotal about a shaft 74. The shaft 74 is pivotallyretained within a bore 76 in the extended neck yoke 40. The cam member72 is so positioned whereby when. it is pivoted, it will engage camsurfaces, 78,, one each provided on each of the arms 68. Anoperating,arm 80 is secured to and serves to rotate the oammernber 72.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamping means 30 is positioned soas to. clamp the neck portion 23b of the bottle 23. Each of the jawmembers 60, 62 includes an arcuate surface 82 upon which is secured apad 84 which is preferably formed from hard rubber. The pads 84 areadapted to engage the neck portion of the bottle 23 and thereby clampthe bottle 23 in a non-rotatable relation with the support cradle 36.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 5 wherein the clamp ing means 30 isshown in an open condition. When the bottles are positioned at one ofthe painting assemblies, the clamping means 30 is released whereby thebottle is free for rotation and thus may be decorated. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the cam member 72 has been rotated in a counterclockwisedirection by means of an external force applied to the operating arm 80.The cam member 72, when so rotated, engages the cam surfaces 78 tospread the arms 68 and hence the jaw members 60, 62. The bottle 23 nowmay be rotated.

While the bottle is being decorated, it revolves through exactly 360. Atthis point, the operating arm 80 and hence the cam member 72 are rotatedin a clockwise direction and into the position illustrated in FIG. 4.Simultaneously, the spring member 70 (see FIG. 5) will urge the jawmembers 60, 62 into the clamped condition shown in FIG. 4 therebyclamping the bottle 23 in a non-rotatable relation wi-th the cradle 36.The bottle 23 now may be transferred to the next painting assembly forapplication of a second decorating imprint.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with one specificembodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suitrequirements without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a method of decorating bottles on a decorating machine having asingle registration station at which bottles are registered exactly witha decorating screen bearing a design to be transferred to the bottlesand at least one painting station spaced from said registration stationand including a decorating screen bearing a design to be transferred tothe bottles, the steps of bringing the bottles in succession along astraight line path of travel to said single registration station,registering the bottle area to be decorated with said design on saiddecorating screen at said registration station, thereafter immobilizingthe bottles at said registration station against rotation about theirlongitudinal axes, transporting the bottles in their immobilized andregistered condition along said straight line path of travel to saidpainting station, and releasing the bottle-s at said painting station intheir registered condition for decoration.

2. In a method for decorating bottles on a decorating machine having asingle registration station and at least one painting station spacedfrom said registration station and including a decorating screen bearinga design to be transferred to the bottles, the steps of bringing thebottles in succession along a straight line path of travel to saidsingle registration station, registering the bottle area to be decoratedwith said design on said decorating screen at said registration station,thereafter rigidly clamping the bottles at said registration station toprevent rotation thereof about their longitudinal .axes, trans ortingthe bottles in their registered and rigidly clamped condition along saidstraight line path of travel to said painting station, and releasing thebottles at said painting station in their registered condition fordecoration.

3. In a method for decorating bottles on a decorating machine having asingle registration station at which bottles are registered exactly witha decorating screen bearing a design to be transferred to the bottles, aplurality of spaced painting stations each including a decorating screenbearing a design to be transferred to the bottles, and an endlessconveyor comprising a plurality of horizontal support cradles eachreceiving a bottle at the feed end of said machine for transferring thebottles along a straight line path of travel sequentially to said singleregistration station and said painting stations, the steps of bringingthe bottles successively to said single registration station wherein thebottles are sequentially (a) 1'0- tated about their longitudinal axesand (b) stopped at a position wherein the bottle area to be decorated isregistered with said design of said decorating screens, thereafterimmovably clamping the bottles at said registration station to thesupport cradles in said position, transporting the bottles in saidposition and in their clamped condition to a first painting station,releasing the bottles at said first painting station in said positionfor decoration immovably clamping the bottles at said first paintingstation to the support cradle-s in said position after decoration;transporting the bottles in said position and in their clamped conditionto a second painting station, and releasing the bottles at said secondpainting station in said position for decoration.

4. In bottle decorating apparatus having at least one painting stationincluding a horizontal decorating screen bearing a design to betransferred, the combination comprising: means for conveying bottlesthrough said decorating apparatus along a horizontal straight line pathof travel including a plurality of cradles secured at spaced pointsalong the length of said conveyor means, each of said cradles receivinga bottle at the feed end of said decorating apparatus and beingpositioned to horizontally support the bottle; single means spaced fromsaid painting station and positioned along said straight line path oftravel for rotating each bottle, prior to decoration, into exactregistration with said design of said horizontal decorating screen;cooperating means mounted on each of said cradles and movable therewithfor releasably and rigidly clamping each bottle to said cradle afterregistration; the bottles being maintained in their clamped conditionduring transfer to said painting station by said conveyor means; andmeans at said painting station for releasing said cooperating meanswhereby each bottle is freed for rotation and decoration.

5. In bottle decorating apparatus having at least one painting stationincluding a decorating screen bearing a design to be transferred, thecombination comprising: means for conveying bottles along a straightline path of travel which positions the bottles successively indecorating relation with said painting station; single means disposedalong said straight line path of travel and spaced from said paintingstation for rotating each bottle about its longitudinal axis, beforedecoration, into exact registration with said design of said decoratingscreen; means movable with said conveyor means for immobilizing thebottles against rotation about their longitudinal axes; the bottlesbeing maintained in their immobilized condition during transfer alongsaid straight line path of travel to said painting station by saidconveyor means; and means at said painting station for releasing saidimmobilizing means whereby each bottle is freed for rotation anddecoration.

6. In decorating apparatus having at least one decorating stationincluding a horizontal decorating screen hearing a design to betransferred, the combination comprising: means for conveying bottlessuccessively through said decorating apparatus along a straight linepath of travel including a plurality of cradles secured at spaced pointsalong the length of said conveyor means, each of said cradles receivinga cylindrical bottle at the feed end of said decorating apparatus andbeing positioned to horizontally support the cylindrical bottle with itsneck portion extending beyond the outboard end of said cradle; singlemeans spaced from said painting station and positioned along saidstraight line path of travel for rotating each bottle, prior todecoration, into exact registration with said design of said horizontaldecorating screen; releasable jaw means mounted on the outboard end ofeach cradle for rigidly clamping the neck portion of the ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 213,698 3/1879 Sherwood eta1. 294--99 2,213,014 8/1940 Owen 2941l7 2,332,058 10/1943 Cattonar etal. 294116 3,146,704 9/1964 Johnson 10 1--38 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, PrimaryExaminer.

1. IN A METHOD OF DECORATING BOTTLES ON A DECORATING MACHINE HAVING ASINGLE REGISTRATION STATION AT WHICH BOTTLES ARE REGISTERED EXACTLY WITHA DECORATING SCREEN BEARING A DESIGN TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE BOTTLESAND AT LEAST ONE PAINTING STATION SPACED FROM SAID REGISTRATION STATIONAND INCLUDING A DECORATING SCREEN BEARING A DESIGN TO BE TRANSFERRED TOTHE BOTTLES, THE STEPS OF BRINGING THE BOTTLES IN SUCCESSION ALONG ASTRAIGHT LINE PATH OF TRAVEL TO SAID SINGLE REGISTRATION STATION,REGISTERING THE BOTTLE AREA TO BE DECORATED WITH SAID DESIGN ON SAIDDECORATING SCREEN AT SAID REGISTRATION STATION, THEREAFTER IMMOBILIZINGTHE BOTTLES AT SAID REGISTRATION STATION AGAINST ROTATION ABOUT THEIRLONGITUDINAL AXES, TRANSPORTING THE BOTTLES IN THEIR IMMOBILIZED ANDREGISTERED CONDITION ALONG SAID STRAIGHT LINE PATH OF TRAVEL TO SAIDPAINTING STATION, AND RELEASING THE BOTTLES AT SAID PAINTING STATION INTHEIR REGISTERED CONDITION FOR DECORATION.